Cleaning off oil etc

[Geko1969]

Hi all!
New to here and completely new to boats also! I have impulse bought a Macwester Rowan boat that has just had an engine put in which is fine but now I need to give it a good wash and in some places paint. There are also some chips in it I would like to fix up and have decided to go with car body filler and then gelcoat, so I hope I am doing that right, any advice would be good on that. The cleaning comprises of grease, oil and rust spots and overall discolor, I am wondering which product and application would work best? I was thinking a buffer with either a scourer or wool bonnet with some sort of cutting compound similar to T cut and then give it a wax??
As I say any advice would be greatly accepted.
Thanks

 

[Stemar]

Welcome to the insanity that is boat ownership!

Big dings could be filled with Isopon P40. P38 would be fine for smaller dings, but IIRC, it's pink. That won't matter if you're planning on painting over it, but a proper gelcoat filler, complete with "marine" pricing does have the advantage of being white.

Rust spots can me attacked with Oxalic acid, It's poisonous and corrosive, so wear gloves and eye protection. As much acid as you can dissolve in warm water, then add enough walpaper paste to make it thick enough not to run off vertical serfices. This will also take care of the yellow stain boats tend to get along the waterline. You can buy a similar mix in chandleries, it's called Y10, but the cost of a bottle of Y10 will bet you a lifetime's supply oxalic acid.

I don't know much about polishing. My gelcoat was too far gone, so I ended up painting it, but I do you want the absolute minimum of abrasion, or you risk making the gelcoat so thin the layup shows through. At that point, paint isn't you only option, but it's the simplest.

 

[johnalison]

I would say be as rough as you like, even fine sanding, which can be polished out. The worst that can happen is that you will end up painting, and your preparation will be halfway there.

 

[Geko1969]

Welcome to the insanity that is boat ownership!

Big dings could be filled with Isopon P40. P38 would be fine for smaller dings, but IIRC, it's pink. That won't matter if you're planning on painting over it, but a proper gelcoat filler, complete with "marine" pricing does have the advantage of being white.

Rust spots can me attacked with Oxalic acid, It's poisonous and corrosive, so wear gloves and eye protection. As much acid as you can dissolve in warm water, then add enough walpaper paste to make it thick enough not to run off vertical serfices. This will also take care of the yellow stain boats tend to get along the waterline. You can buy a similar mix in chandleries, it's called Y10, but the cost of a bottle of Y10 will bet you a lifetime's supply oxalic acid.

I don't know much about polishing. My gelcoat was too far gone, so I ended up painting it, but I do you want the absolute minimum of abrasion, or you risk making the gelcoat so thin the layup shows through. At that point, paint isn't you only option, but it's the simplest.

Thanks Stemar, I have the Oxalic acid now and are ready to give it a good clean tomorrow. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Geko1969]

I would say be as rough as you like, even fine sanding, which can be polished out. The worst that can happen is that you will end up painting, and your preparation will be halfway there.

Hi Johnalison - Yes, I feel a bit more positive about going forward, as you say, I can always go paint it! Any good paint brands you can recommend for boats? Cheers!